The desire to travel, to some extent, is fed by certain, unique sensations that are impossible to experience otherwise. For some, it’s the strange dance that millions of people, bicycles, cars and busses perform daily in the streets of Ho Chi Min or Bangkok. For others it’s seeing firsthand the masterpieces that have been preserved for hundreds of years in the ancient cathedrals and monuments of Europe. For me, it’s the smell of earthy spices and the cry of the Imam five times a day from the minarets. Whatever it is, millions of us catch the bug and feel the need to see the distant corners of the world.

The problem for most of us is in financing; we lack the money and time to go explore the globe. Not all of us can afford the extravagant, month-long junkets that Congressmen and CEO’s seem to take on a whim. Most of the rest of us lack the freedom to vagabond around in the style of Kerouac or Twain. There is a way that you can see the world and get paid to do it.

Governments and organizations all over the world are constantly looking for qualified English teachers to help train the rising generation of their citizens in the common language of business and technology. Most offer competitive salaries and some even pick up the housing bill. The benefits often include health coverage and paid vacation, much like you’d find in the States. All offer the opportunity to engross yourself in a new, exotic culture and environment.

There are secondary benefits to teaching English in a foreign country. There is no feeling comparable to helping children, especially those in war-ravaged or impoverished countries, rise above their circumstances and become a positive force of change in both their communities and the world.

Countries like Saudi Arabia, Korea, Japan, Kuwait, Thailand, China and Qatar are always looking for new teachers to hire. For the more adventurous, opportunities abound in parts of Iraq, like Kurdistan in the North.

Whatever the reason you choose to travel, teaching English abroad can become an excellent way to facilitate the means to help you reach this goal.

A lot of recent graduates are not able to find a job.  Or the best one they can find right now pays only $7 an hour part-time.  Because of the current economy, many Americans are leaving.  They are going to places where there are still jobs available.

One of these places is China.  Many recent grads have hopped on planes and are now teaching English full-time.  English teachers are in high demand for both Chinese students and businessmen.  For example, Mikala Reasbeck just recently graduated from college and couldn't find a job in the U.S., so she headed to China and found a full time job without speaking any Chinese dialects. 

In China "the jobs are so easy to find.  And there are so many," Reasbeck said.  These jobs are not only offering graduate's salaries, but professional experience.  However, when the economy does improve, they will face a difficult decision of continuing to work in China, or coming back to the U.S.

Chris Watkins manager of a headhunting firm in China and Hong Kong said that "China is really the land of opportunity now, compared to their home countries."  "This includes college graduates as well as more established businesspeople, entrepreneurs and executives from companies around the world."

Even though China has also faced a slowing economy, the prospects of finding employment are much better over there.  China has seen young foreigners coming for work, because the markets are much worse in the United States, Europe, and some Asian countries.   

Many graduates had to accept job offers that were different than they had planned, because they either couldn't find work or companies withdrew their offer. So many college grads are teaching piano lessons, leading fishing tours in Alaska, delivering pizzas, or whatever else they can find.

For individuals that either can't find a job or hate their job might want to think about working abroad.  China is one country that can be easier for foreign workers to get into.  There have been difficulties acquiring work permits in Russia and some other European countries. 

Although rules were tightened preceding the Beijing Olympics in 2008, which forced some foreign workers to leave because their visas expired.  Approximately 217,000 individuals held work permits in China at the end of 2008.  But thousands more use temporary business visas and go abroad regularly in order to renew them.

Many young professionals report that they live more comfortably in China with a lower salary than they would enjoy in the U.S.  Working in China not only can offer you employment, but it's also a great asset when you return to your home country, or when trying to get into business schools.

A former London banker reports that it is easier to reach top-level positions in China, plus he earns more money and works fewer hours.  However, this isn't the case for everybody.  Applicants must also realize that there are also many Chinese competing for jobs that also have degrees from western universities, work experience, and many will work for less money.

While leaving the U.S. to find a job may not work for you, it is a great option.  You will not only have a steady income, but also great experience which can help you when you're applying for a job back in the U.S. Or you may fall in love with China and become an expatriate.